This would be great, perfect size and reasonable price. My only question is how many pins would I need to control this matrix and could I use some kind of a chip to decrease the pins needed without much work.

Is there anything cheaper? Maybe it could only control one display would be ok. I cant really imagine spending $25 on a chip that ill probably solder wrong and it does not really look like it would go in a breadboard.

Thanks, wow my searching skills are sure lacking today. Ill keep looking thanks for everyone's help. Just one last question does anyone have a good beginner (or advanced) circuit book that they could recommend?

Look at the 8x8 matrix - one is billed as common anode, one as common cathode - which is which? In both cases, the rows are connected to anodes, and the columns connected to cathodes.

For non-square configurations, like 5x7, you'd want to make sure the 5 anodes made up your rows (driven by the Segment pins), or the 7 anodes if wanted taller rows, with each column having a common cathode (each column driven by a digit pin).